Signaling apparatus.



G. W. KINNEY.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 25.1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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CLARENCE W. KINNEY, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Spec'caton'of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29,1914.

Application filed March 25, 1912. Serial No. 686,154.

( snr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county ot Worcester have and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, invented a new and useful Improvement 1n Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same.

My invention relates to a device designed to be used in connection with the movable part of a machine for the purpose of giving a signal to indicate the stoppage of the machine or some part thereof connected with the signaling apparatus.

I accomplish the object of my invention through the instrumentality of an electric circuit which is maintained open during the normal movement or operation of the machine vwith which the signaling apparatus is connected, and I provide means for closing the circuit whenever the movement of the connected machine is stopped.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in elevation my signaling apparatus connected with a rotating yarn spool. Fig. 2 is av central vertical sectional view on the plane of the broken line Q-Q, Fig. 3, through the axis of the signaling apparatus. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the plane of the broken line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

`Referring to Fig. 1, 1 denotes ayarn spool carrying a strand oi' yarn 2 which, in the operation of a machine such as a spinning or twisting machine, is assumed to be withdrawn i'roni the spool in the direction ot' the arrow 3, thereby imparting a rotary motion to the spool. The spool 1, in the present instance, is journaled upon a spindle fl held in a bracket 5 forming a part of the lixed framework of a machine such as a spinning or twisting machine. Carried upon the hub of the spool 1 is a belt pulley (l having a belt connection 7 with a belt pulley 8 upon the shaft of a signaling mechanism embodying my invention, and comprising a rotating drum Q'which, in the present instance. is constructed ot two circular disks 10 and 11 of vulcanized fiber, hard rubber, or some similar insulating material.

Attached to the outer sides of the disks 10 and 11 are giulgeons 12 and 13 journaled in stands 1l and 15. Attached to the inner and partially sides of the disks 10 and 11 inserted therein are two steel plates 16 and 17, having the inner sides of their periphcries beveled, as represented at 18 and 19. Between the two disks 10 and 11 is insert-ed an annular disk 2O of suflicient thickness to provide an open space 21 between thel steel' plates 16 and 17. The annular disk 2O has a circular opening in the center of slightlyT less diameter than the diameter of the steel plates 16 and 17. Iladiating outwardly from this central opening in the annular disk Q0 I form a series of channels Q2, and lcommunicating with the outer ends of the channels Q2 are short channels Q3 turned inwardly and at an acute angle to the channels 22. The channels and 23 are formed by cutting entirely through the annular disk 2O so that the inner sides of the disks 10 and 11 form the sides of the channels. In each ot the channels I )lace a steel ball 24 capable of turning freely in the channels.

Each of the steel plates 1G and 17 is electrically connected by wires 25 and 26 with copper hands 27 and 28, held concentrically on but insulated from the gudgeons 12 and 13. The copper bands Q7l and 28 rotate with the gudgeons, and in contact with them are brushes 29 and 30 connected with wires 31 and which form part of an electric circuit including, in the present instance. a bell 33, or an electric lamp or other suitable signaling means may be substituted for the bell 33.

In the operation of my improved signaling apparatusthe drum 9 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 34, Fig. 3,whenever rotary motion is imparted to the spool 1 by the withdrawal of the yarn strand 2. Asleach of the channels 2x2 is carried beneath the center of the rotating drum, the balls will roll by gravity to the outer ends of the channels QQ into the position shown at 24a. As the disk rotates carrying the channels upward, the steel balls will roll from the outer ends of the channels 22 through the short channels Q3 into the position lshown at Q4". Each of the balls will remain in this position at the inner end of a channel Q3 as it passes above the center of the rotating drum. Just before the channels 22 move beneath the center ot the rotating drum. the balls occupying the positions shown at Q-t" will roll down the inclined sides ot the channels Q3 into the position shown at .f2-l. As soon as the ball has left the position 21h and rolled to the outer end of a channel .22 into the position shown at 24, gravity will tend to roll the ball down the channel 22 into the position indicated by the brokenV lines 24d. When the ball is in the position 24d, it is in contact with the beveled edges 18 and 19 of the steel plates 16 and 17, thereby completing the circuit and causing the bell 33 to ring. Gravity acts, however, to roll the balls toward the center ot' the drum only when they are in the positions indicated at 24C. ln order to change the positiri of the ball from 24h to 2st, it is necessary that the ball roll outwardly through the channel23, be brought to a state of absolute rest at the junctionof the channels 22 and 23 and then roll the ff-length of the channel 22. These two niolf-veinents of the ball plus its period of rest require an appreciable time and can only occur when the drum 9 has ceased to rotate, or is rotated so slowly that the ball has time to complete its movement from the position 24h to that of 24d. lf the drum 9, however, be rotated by the rotation of the spool 1 at the normal speed ofthe spool 1,

the ball will be carried from a position where it is held by gravity at 24.* to a posi .tion where it will be held by gravity at2/la before it has time to 'form' a Contact with the plates 16 and 17. So long as the normal rotation of the spool 1 is maintained, therefore, no electrical Contact between any of the balls and the plates 16 and `17 will occur. lf, however, by the breakage of the strand 2, the rotation of the'spooll stops, at least one of the ballsV contained in the channels will roll into contact with the plates 16 andl 17., causing'an alarm to be sounded as'long as the drum remains at rest, unless the electric circuit is broken by a switch or other known means.

While l have herein shown and described the details of one iorm of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to such details as it is obvious that certain changes may be made within the scope of the appended -gles with said first mentioned grooves,

whereby the movements of said balls are retarded.

2. ln a signaling apparatus, a rotatable i dru1n,`a pair of spaced terminals of an electric circuit carried by said drum, said drum having a series of radially extended grooves leading to said terminals, and balls adapted to roll by gravity in said grooves into contact with said terminals to vcomplete the electric circuit 'as said drum is rotated, said drum also having grooves communicating at acute angles with said first mentioned grooves, whereby the movements of said balls are retarded. p

3. Ina signaling apparatus, a rotatable drum, a pair of spaced terminals of an electric circuit carried by said drum, said drum having a series of radially extended grooves leading to said terminals, and members adapted tomove by gravity inl said grooves into contact with said terminals to complete the electric circuit as said drum is rotated, said drum also having grooves communicating angularly with said first mentioned grooves, whereby the movements of saidl members are retarded.

CLARENCE W. KINNEY.

Witnesses PENELOPE COMBERBACH, NELLLE WHAVLEN. 

